Turnover apparatus and method of use



April 2, 1963 w. s. GIBBS TURNOVER APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D60. 29, 1960 INVENTORJI Winfield 5. Gibbs.

Ti= (a) B I FIG.4

ATTORNEY April 2, 1953 w. s. GIBBS 3,083,840

TURNOVER APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE Filed Dec. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Winfield 5. Gibbs ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to turnover apparatus and method, especially adapted for turning over stacks of sheet material on fork-lift pallets, and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide apparatus and method of using it which will permit of the use of a very simple device which can be transported about a plant and put down for use on any open floor space; which can be operated by lifting facilities normally available in most plants whereby a space consuming installation of high cost is avoided; and which can be removed and put in storage when not in use.

Another object is to provide a turnover device of a very simple form which can be made at a very low cost.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device as put down on the floor for use;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic end view showing a stack of material being introduced into the turnover device, view a showing a stack of material being picked up by a fork lift truck and view b showing the truck in the act of depositing the stack in the turnover device;

FIG. 3 is an end perspective view showing the turnover device being lifted at the top and rolled over at the bottom on the floor;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic end view showing the device in several stages of turning over and the removal of the stack, view a showing a fork lift truck engaging the stack to lift it and remove it from the turnover device and view b showing the fork lift truck moved back from the device and ready to put down or transport the stack, as may be required;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing another method of using the device, view a showing a stack in the device and the device being turned up to a medial vertical position and lifted, view b, a top plan, showing the device lifted off the floor and ready to be turned 180 degrees about a vertical axis, view showing the device after turning on the vertical axis, view d showing the device set back down on the floor and turned down ready for removal of the stack, and view e showing the stack after removal by a fork lift truck; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the device lifted off the floor for turning as in views a and 5b.

As shown in the drawings, the turnover device 10 is U-shaped with a plurality of axially spaced U-shaped frame members 11, having sides 11:: and rocker bottoms 11b; a bottom floor 12 connected to the flat inside bottoms of the frame members 11; axially spaced side plates 13, leaving the fork bar spaces between them, secured to the inner surfaces of the frame sides 11a; top longitudinal connecting bars 14 secured to the upper ends of the frame sides 11a; end bail bars 15 secured to the ends of the longitudinal bars 14; and a lift bail beam 16 connected by flexible means, such as chains or cables 17 to the middle of the bail bars 15. The bail beam 16 is provided at the center with a ring fitting 18 adapted to be engaged by a swivel crane book :19. The spaces between the plates 13 are normally not needed but may be an aid when pallets are not used.

States Patent 'ice The flexible connections 17 are long enough to allow the bail beam 16 to be disposed below the top opening of the device when not supported by a crane lift; and may be made long enough to allow the bail beam to be laid on the top of the device when not held up by the crane.

The bail bars 15 serve as end retaining means at the open upper end; and welded-on loops 2% provide retaining means near the bottom.

Intercostal plates 21, as needed, are welded in between the frame members 1111 near the top and elsewhere if desired.

The entire U-shaped turnover device may be transported by crane or by a fork lift truck T, having fork lift bars TF, to any part of the plant having open space and put down on the floor for use. The spaces between frame sides are open underneath for insertion of the fork lift bars.

One type of operation with the device will be described by reference to FIGS. 2-4. In FIG. 2a a stack of sheets S on a first fork lift pallet A has a second pallet B put down on the .top of it. The depth of the stack with the two pallets is less than the width of the space between the plates 13 of the turnover device and preferably almost as wide as the space so as to avoid excess movement during the turnover operation.

In FIG. 2b the stack has been inserted in the turn over device and the truck forks TF are ready to be withdrawn.

FIG. 3 shows the turnover device being lifted at the open end by the bail bar 16 and the crane hook 19. In this movement the round bottoms 11b of the frame members roll on the floor. The crane can be moved on its tracks during this movement to keep the lift vertical at all times.

FIG. 4a shows this first movement to upright vertical position in broken lines.

From the vertical position the crane is moved further along its tracks to the full line position in which the device has been laid down on the floor on its other side, the bottom rolling on the floor throughout the entire turnover movement. The pallet A is now on top and the pallet B is on the bottom, just reversed from the original position.

The fork truck T now comes up to insert its fork bars TF in the lower pallet B and removes the stack as shown in FIG. 4b.

Another type of operation is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5a the turnover device with a stack already inserted is shown in broken lines. A pallet A is disposed below the stack S and a pallet B is disposed above the sheet stack. In full lines the device is shown in vertical position, after having been rolled over on the floor, and lifted a short distance above the floor or deck D. FIG. 6 is a side view of the device in raised position.

FIG. 5b shows the device in plan in the vertical position of FIG. 5a.

FIG. 5c shows the device after it has been turned through degrees (approximately) about a vertical axis. This can readily be done by hand, the assembly turning about the swivel of the crane hook or by twisting of the crane cables.

FIG. 5d in dotted lines shows the device again set down on the floor and started to turn back toward the side from which it was lifted. In full lines the device is shown resting on its side on the floor again after having been rolled down on the floor. Pallet A is now uppermost and pallet B is lowermost, just the reverse of the disposition at the start.

In FIG. 5e the fork truck T has removed the stack from the turnover device.

The advantage of the second method of turning over a stack is that the fork truck can reload the stack after aoeasao turnover from the same side on which it was loaded. This is an advantage where the width of floor space is restricted. The advantage of the first method is that it is simple and safe, the device never being lifted off the floor in the turnoveroperation.

In the drawings (FIG. 4a and FIGS. 5a, 51)) for simplicity and clarity, the device is shown as if it turned about a fixed axis whereas actually the axis of curvature moves like the axle of a wheel as the device turns on its bottom on the floor.

It is thus seen that the invention provides a simple portable turnover device which can be used wherever there is sufiicient floor space in the plant to set it down and turn it. No fixed trunnion base of any sort is required, the device turning over like a wheel on the floor. When not needed the device can readily be taken away and stored.

While one embodiment has been shown and described for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that there may be various embodiments and modifications within the general scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

I 1. The method of turning over a body of material by the use of a portable rigid box having a bottom with arcuate rockers, sides, an open top, and means for lifting it from above with the open top upward, which comprises, disposing the material to be turned over in an assembly between lower and upper fork truck pallets,

i pended about a vertical axis, lowering the open top edge of the box while the box turns on its rockers on the fioor to bring the other side down on the floor, and engaging the other pallet and lifting and removing the assembly from the open top of the box.

2. Apparatus for turning over a body of material, comprising a box having a bottom, parallel sides, ends, an open top opposite the bottom, rockers on the bottom parallel to the ends, and lifting means on the ends near the open top for lifting up the open top edge of the box while the rockers roll on the floor, said lifting means comprising a bail pivoted to turn about an axis between and parallel to the sides, and said bail having. a central element for support from above, said bail swinging clear of the open top when not in use to provide for insertion and removal of material through the open top.

3. Apparatus for turning over a body of material, comprising a rigid box having a bottom, parallel sides, ends, an open top opposite the bottom, U-shaped ilat plate rockers attached to said bottom and said sides of said rigid box parallel to the ends and encompassing the sides and bottom of said box, and lifting means attached to the ends of said U-shaped plate rockers near the open top of said box for lifting up the open top edge of the box while the U-shaped rockers roll on the floor from one side of the U-shaped plate to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hedderich Dec. 23, 1958 

1. THE METHOD OF TURNING OVER A BODY OF MATERIAL BY THE USE OF A PORTABLE RIGID BOX HAVING A BOTTOM WITH ARCUATE ROCKERS, SIDES, AN OPEN TOP, AND MEANS FOR LIFTING IT FROM ABOVE WITH THE OPEN TOP UPWARD, WHICH COMPRISES, DISPOSING THE MATERIAL TO BE TURNED OVER IN AN ASSEMBLY BETWEEN LOWER AND UPPER FORK TRUCK PALLETS, PLACING THE BOX ON ONE SIDE ON A FLOOR, ENGAGING THE LOWER PALLET AND LIFTING THE ASSEMBLY AND PUSHING IT INTO THE OPEN TOP OF THE BOX, LIFTING THE OPEN TOP EDGE OF THE BOX TO TURN THE BOX ON ITS ROCKERS ON THE FLOOR INTO AN 